6-Day Fujian Food Tour

Fuzhou is the birthplace of Fujian cuisine. Many classic Fujian dishes, such as Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Chicken Soup with Sea Clams and Lychee Pork, all originated here. You can taste authentic local Fujian cuisine in this city. Upon your arrival in Fuzhou, a private vehicle will transfer you to the hotel for check-in. Take a short rest and get familiar with the hotel surroundings.

In the morning, head to Three Lanes and Seven Alleys. Known as the "Museum of Ming and Qing Architecture", it is a historic block retaining the urban layout of the Tang and Song dynasties, where a great variety of Fujian delicacies are gathered. Follow your guide to visit Fuzhou Confucian Temple, Black Pagoda Park, the Love Heart Tree and Fujian Folk Custom Museum. Afterwards, stroll to Daming Food Street to taste classic Fujian snacks including pork swallow dumplings, fish balls and eight-treasure taro paste. You may also dine at an old-established restaurant to savour iconic Fujian dishes such as Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and lychee pork.

Three Lanes and Seven Alleys

Explore Street Snacks

In the afternoon, travel to Shangxiahang Cultural and Leisure Tourist Area. Visit Yongde Guild Hall to appreciate its combined Chinese and Western architectural styles, and learn about the history of Fujian merchants and local trade culture. Explore Caifeng Villa to experience the elegant courtyards and architectural features of overseas Chinese merchants’ residences from the Republic of China era. Then head to Santong Bridge, where the lights light up at dusk, creating picturesque reflections on the water. Taste local treats like glutinous rice dumplings, sweet rice cakes and tofu pudding during your walk.

Shangxiahang Cultural and Leisure Tourist Area

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Wander through the historic Three Lanes and Seven Alleys and Shangxiahang Cultural and Leisure Scenic Area, and fully immerse yourself in the flavours and food culture of authentic Fujian snacks and signature Fujian dishes.

Educational Focus:

What are the characteristics of Fujian cuisine?

Takeaway:

Based on Fuzhou-style cuisine, Fujian cuisine integrates flavours from five other regions across Fujian, including eastern, southern and western Fujian. Fuzhou dishes highlight a fresh and light taste and are expertly crafted with fresh seafood. Southern Fujian cuisine leans spicy and savoury, commonly using satay sauce and mustard as seasonings. Western Fujian food features salty and spicy flavours, with a focus on wild mountain ingredients.

Thought Challenge:

As a signature dish of Fujian cuisine with complicated cooking procedures and premium rare ingredients, why has Buddha Jumps Over the Wall become an iconic representative of Fujian food culture?

Conclude your Fuzhou tour and depart for Quanzhou. Known as the Largest Port in the East during the Song and Yuan dynasties and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, Quanzhou has maintained long-term exchanges with regions across the globe. Its local delicacies not only inherit traditional southern Fujian cooking techniques, but also blend diverse international flavors, fully reflecting the inclusiveness and innovation of Quanzhou’s food culture.

Next, visit Kaiyuan Temple, a landmark attraction in Quanzhou. Admire the East and West Pagodas, Mahavira Hall and other historic architectures, and immerse yourself in thousand-year-old Buddhist culture.

Kaiyuan Temple

Then head to West Street, a paradise for food lovers in Quanzhou offering a full range of street snacks and exquisite Fujian dishes. You may discover the most authentic local flavors through specialties such as vermicelli paste and sea worm jelly, and experience the essence of Fujian cuisine with delicate dishes like ginger duck and soft spring rolls.

West Street

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Explore the ancient millennial Kaiyuan Temple to learn about Quanzhou’s time-honored religious culture and ancient architecture; stroll along West Street to taste distinctive southern Fujian delicacies and experience the unique charm of Quanzhou’s local catering culture.

Educational Focus:

What are the classic cooking techniques of Fujian cuisine?

Takeaway:

Fujian cuisine features exquisite knife skills and attaches great importance to heat control and soup preparation. It is skilled in stir-frying, quick-frying, pan-frying, slow simmering, steaming and deep-frying. The overall taste tends to be sweet, sour and light. Soup dishes are highly valued and widely served in local meals.

Thought Challenge:

Behind the refined and elaborate cooking methods of Fujian cuisine, what life philosophies and dietary pursuits of local people are reflected?

In the morning, depart from Quanzhou for Zhangzhou, a renowned "China Food City" hidden with countless authentic local delicacies. Afterwards, head to Zhangzhou Ancient City. With a history of over 1,300 years, the ancient city features bluestone paved streets. Wander along the lanes to appreciate distinctive southern Fujian architectures including red-brick ancient residences and arcaded buildings, and soak up the historical charm of this millennial old town. Stroll to Qingnian Road Food Area to taste intangible cultural heritage snacks such as Zhangzhou braised noodles and four-fruit sweet soup.

In the afternoon, visit Zhangzhou Museum to view exhibitions related to the Maritime Silk Road and learn how the ocean has shaped southern Fujian cuisine. Admire exquisite Zhangzhou kiln porcelain on display. As crucial trade goods in ancient times, these fine porcelains bear witness to the glorious history of Zhangzhou as the ancient Yuegang Port.

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Experience the lively street vibe of time-honored Zhangzhou in the ancient city and savor local intangible cultural heritage cuisines. Gain insights into the influence of the Maritime Silk Road on Fujian cuisine at Zhangzhou Museum.

Educational Focus:

What impacts did the Maritime Silk Road have on Fujian cuisine?

Takeaway:

Via the Maritime Silk Road, spices and ingredients from Southeast Asia were introduced to China, greatly enriching the seasonings of southern Fujian cuisine. For instance, satay sauce, which gives satay noodles their unique flavor, contains spice blends deeply influenced by overseas maritime trade.

Thought Challenge:

Street snacks like Zhangzhou braised noodles have been passed down for generations. What significance do traditional handmade techniques hold for the inheritance of southern Fujian snacks?

In the morning, travel from Zhangzhou to Xiamen. Upon arrival, head to Haicang to experience the whole process of making sea worm jelly. A distinctive snack of southern Fujian, sea worm jelly is made by boiling sea worms and cooling the broth until it sets. It is served with minced garlic, soy sauce and vinegar, offering a one-of-a-kind flavor.

Xiamen Specialty — Sea Worm Jelly

In the afternoon, visit Xiamen’s well-known Eighth Market, the perfect spot to taste authentic Fujian cuisine and experience local daily life in Xiamen. Classic local delicacies such as satay noodles, oyster omelets, spiced pork rolls and sea worm jelly can all be found here. As one of Xiamen’s oldest seafood distribution hubs, the market also offers a wide selection of fresh seafood, which you can take to nearby workshops to be cooked into a sumptuous seafood feast.

Diverse Seafood in Xiamen Eighth Market

Special Snack — Oyster Omelets

Your Journey’s Rewards:

Hands-on experience the full making process of specialty sea worm jelly in Xiamen, and learn the crafting skills behind coastal delicacies. Explore the local street market at Xiamen Eighth Market, taste classic southern Fujian seafood snacks, and discover the vibrant marine food culture of Xiamen.

Educational Focus:

How does Fujian’s geographical environment shape Fujian cuisine?

Takeaway:

Fujian features the most winding coastline across China, with numerous bays, tidal flats and estuaries. This creates abundant marine fishery resources, including fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish and seaweed, which serve as the core seafood ingredients for Fujian cuisine. Western and northern Fujian are dominated by mountains and hills, rich in bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, wild fungi and other mountain delicacies, supplying unique terrestrial ingredients for local Fujian dishes.

Thought Challenge:

For niche seafood delicacies like oyster omelets and sea worm jelly, how to strike a balance between preserving regional uniqueness and improving public acceptance when promoting them to tourists from all over the country?

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel in the morning. If time permits, you may explore the shopping malls nearby or discover more local delicacies. Our driver and tour guide will escort you to the airport or railway station according to your schedule, bringing your 6-day Fujian gourmet tour to a pleasant end.